Preparing for your newborn session

Thank you for booking your newborn photos with me

I know that there are a number of choices available to you and I want you to know that I appreciate your decision to book with me.

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I am looking forward to your session, I have tried to include as much information as possible here, however if you have any questions at all please feel free to contact me.

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Your newborn session will take place at my warm and comfy studio at our small farm in Taieri Mouth, I have attached directions further on in this info guide, please check these and print them out or copy and paste to your phone notes.

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• I have all of the props, wraps etc that we need for the session.

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• Feel free to bring any special objects you want included in some photos.​​

 

• Please bring baby in the outfit you want for their family photos (or you can choose one of mine or I can wrap baby)

• We have a bathroom and lavatory in the studio

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This way we can get baby out of the carseat and straight into family photos, after which you can change baby, I'll wrap them and then you can both relax and have a good, full feed. That said, you are the parent and you know your baby, so do what feels right.

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After family photos if baby has siblings,  one parent can either take the older child(ren) outside, home, to the beach, playground or cafe while we continue the session. Alternatively, please pack snacks and toys/books for your older children.

 

Mini session clients: not all of this information applies to your session -however it is good to read so you have an understanding of what happens in the studio 

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Family photos are included in all sessions.

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Expectations:

• Baby's age: this depends on your family and how you are all feeling. Let me know when baby arrives so I know to keep my calendar open. If you can get in here when baby is 5 days old great! If you can't that's fine too! Two weeks is my sweet spot, three to four weeks is good, five to six we just need to adjust our expectations a little, but beautiful photos will still happen.

• All babies are different. Some 7 day old babies will sleep through a tornado and let me pose them however I like, others are super sensitive, don't like being undressed and can stay awake for hours. Some 7 week old babies will crash out milk drunk and pose like a newborn, others are already rolling over and are not interested in anything I want them to do.

• Please accept your baby for who they are.

• We WILL get beautiful photos of your child...they just may not be the photos you expect. They will be the photos of who your baby is right now, and that is special beyond measure <3

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What to bring:

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• I have loads of little outfits, hats etc in different styles and colours, but bring any clothes you want to include in photos.

• Water bottles for parents

• nappies, wipes, milk supply, dummy (if used)

• special family items and taonga that you wish to include in photos e.g. hand knit shawl, small toys etc.

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What to wear:

• Solid colours are best, please avoid large prints and shirts with pictures as these detract from baby.

• Light or dark colours are fine - choose what suits you, soft pastels and neutrals tend to work best at showcasing baby - so beiges, soft greys and creams are nice.

• Try to co-ordinate with your partner and children - choose 3 or 4 colours and ensure everyone is wearing one, two or three. 

• Keep it simple, wear clothes you feel good in, that represent your style and that co-ordinate (so don't wear activewear if your husband is wearing a suit and tie!).

• Please ensure that your clothing looks the way you want it to in photos, I cannot photoshop creases, bra straps etc. You are welcome to wear one of my gowns or scandi style dresses.

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What if:

• My baby won't sleep? Most babies who have been fed, changed and burped will sleep eventually. I have lots of tricks to help them relax and doze off. I am very happy for baby to be awake, so long as they are happy.

• My baby cries the whole time and and we don't get photos? This has never happened :-)

• I am too tired to get my hair and make up done, or change out of my sweatshirt and track pants? All good, the way I photograph you and your baby we won't see those things, we will see the love you have for your partner and baby, and theirs for you.

• My baby has spots and flakey skin? Should I put the session off until those have gone? No! I will edit your photos so that these are barely noticeable. Please do not oil baby's skin as that makes it very shiny in the photos.

• My baby poops on your props? Thats what babies do, thats why everything is washable , why I wear a uniform and why we keep nappies on as much as possible!

• My two year old is upset about the baby and won't have photos with them? That is siblings for you...I will work with your child to find some way that they will agree to photos with baby. I have some pretty amazing tricks that don't include lollies :-)

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AFTER THE SESSION

After your session, I will get to work on culling your images down to the very best of the best , then editing those images and getting them up into your gallery. Once they're ready, I'll be in touch with a link to your gallery.

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You can choose to purchase digital files (soft copies), prints and products. There is no minimum purchase, I don't ask you back to the studio to choose (unless this something that you wish to do).

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Downloading your files:

Once you've chosen your images you will be sent a download link, I'd encourage you to download the images  immediately.

The images will download as a zip file, which you can double-click on to expand. I suggest you make a second copy of the expanded files, then save the two copies to two different locations - I generally recommend that one copy be

saved to an easily accessible drive (either on your computer or on an external hard drive), and that the other get saved to the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).

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Copyrights (and wrongs):

Once you've got your digital files in hand, you are free to print them when, where, and as often as you wish - you can use them to make holiday cards, share on your social media pages or personal blog, etc.

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The only things you can't do are related to the resale of your photos or use for

commercial/business purposes. For instance, if you authored a book, you'd need additional permission to use one of the photos on the dust jacket, and you can't re-edit the images. Otherwise, you've got free reign.

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